Jacques Schwarz-Bart is a mixed race child. As a young man, Jacques learned that it is possible to be a receptacle for many cultures. After graduating at the French School of Government Science Po Paris, Jacques began his career working for the French Senate. His first instrument was the Guadeloupe Gwoka Drums. He discovers the tenor Saxophone at 24 and, three years later, leaves his job to study at Berklee College. After performing alongside legends such as Roy Hargrove and Danilo Perez as well as Ari Hoenig, Meshell n’Degeocello (D’angelo), Chucho Valdes, Chucho Valdes, Chucho Valdes, Meshell n’Degeocello and Meshell n’Degeocello), Jacques decides to pursue his vision of being a band leader. In 2005, Jacques leaves Roy Hargrove’s group and starts his Gwoka Jazz Project. He gathers talented and loyal musicians like Sonny Troupe and Olivier Juste. Jacques and his Gwoka Project recorded two albums for Universal, “Sone Ka La” and “Abyss”, that have established his international reputation as a jazz band leader. He releases “Rise Above” in 2010, which is the result of a long-standing collaboration with Stephanie McKay, his singer and wife. Bob Davis says, “This album sounds exactly like what would have happened if John Coltrane or Minnie Riperton had made an album together.” Recent projects include straight jazz and Caribbean roots music. First, a trio featuring guitar, drums, and saxophone. While the music is free from the ground, the absence of bass gives it an almost ethereal quality. Obed Calvaire and Gilad Hekselman’s multi-dimensional playing are able to take advantage of the large open space. Jacques was fortunate to have the chance to work with pianist Baptiste Trotignon, drummer Leon Parker and bassist Thomas Bramerie in these final years. These encounters led to the formation of a Quartet. The music is effortless. They are a force of unpredictability and purposeful creativity that demonstrates an unbreakable sense unity. The music is written and directed by all members of the band. An album is being recorded for the end 2011 to show how unique this symbiosis can be. Jacques also created a project which combines modern jazz with ritual voodoo music of Haiti. It includes two Voodoo priests, Errol Josue and Gaston Bonga as well as some of jazz’s finest musicians, Obed Calvaire and Luqies Cutis. The music is a jazz project but the spirituality of Voodoo music lifts it. The band members and the audience seem to be floating together in a sea filled with light. This music was the headliner at the Banlieues Bleues Festival’s opening day on March 11, 2011, in Paris. Jacques begins touring with this project. He will be performing in Morocco (Essaouira Festival), Guadeloupe and other countries. From artist’s website
